Weekly News for Designers № 611

Welcome to the W3C design system – A look at how the W3C’s design system is structured. You can even download templates for use in your own projects.
Example from Welcome to the W3C design system

How to Work With Both Good & Bad Design Clients – How to determine which clients are worth the trouble and which ones you should just skip over.
Example from How to Work With Both Good & Bad Design Clients

CSS Container Query Units – Experimenting with CSS container queries using different units.
Example from CSS Container Query Units

Paper to HTML Converter – Check out an experimental prototype that aims to render scientific papers in HTML.
Example from Paper to HTML Converter

Doodle Ipsum – Create custom doodles for use on your project prototypes, etc.
Example from Doodle Ipsum

10 WordPress Plugins to Help Improve Website Accessibility – A wide selection of tools to help us meet the challenges of accessibility.
Example from 10 WordPress Plugins to Help Improve Website Accessibility

Purity UI Dashboard – Grab a copy of this free ReactJS Dashboard based on Chakra UI.
Example from Purity UI Dashboard

Koloicons – A fully-customizable library of 3,000+ free SVG icons.
Example from Koloicons

Mechanic – An open-source framework that makes it easy to create custom, web-based design tools that export design assets right in your browser.
Example from Mechanic

Clients Make Too Many UX Decisions. Here’s How to Stop Them. – Tips for inviting client feedback while keeping them at a safe distance from UX.
Example from Clients Make Too Many UX Decisions. Here’s How to Stop Them.

iPod.js – This JavaScript app uses the familiar iPod Classic UI and pairs it with the ability to connect with popular streaming services.
Example from iPod.js

Basic Pattern Repository – A collection of simple and seamless SVG patterns that you can copy and paste into projects.
Example from Basic Pattern Repository

Faust.js, the Framework For Headless WordPress – Take a peek at WPEngine’s new headless WordPress framework.
Example from Faust.js, the Framework For Headless WordPress

Grainy Gradients – Learn how to create noise effects with CSS and SVG.
Example from Grainy Gradients

Tips for Improving the Core Web Vitals of Your WordPress Website – Optimize your site’s performance and stay in Google’s good graces.
Example from Tips for Improving the Core Web Vitals of Your WordPress Website

iPhone 13 Mockup (FREE) – Add the latest iPhone to your device mockup collection with this free Figma file.
Example from iPhone 13 Mockup (FREE)

Create Content That Targets Your Existing Design Clients – Write informative content that is sure to pique your client’s interest.
Example from Create Content That Targets Your Existing Design Clients

Tove – This new WordPress theme takes advantage of Full Site Editing (FSE) and the Gutenberg block editor.
Example from Tove WordPress Theme

The post Weekly News for Designers № 611 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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10 Free Slideshow & Gallery Templates for Adobe After Effects in 2021

Slideshows are a great way to grab your audience’s attention. Whether you’re making a business presentation or want a unique way to preserve precious moments, a slideshow can help you make it more memorable.

That’s why in this article, we’ve selected the best After Effects slideshow and gallery templates that will help you create a stunning video presentation.

You might also like our collection of the 10 Best Slideshow & Gallery Templates for After Effects

More free After Effects templates: Titles, Animated Icons, Logo Reveals, Animated Fonts, Lower Thirds, Intros, and Openers.

Contact Sheet Slideshow Free After Effects Template (Free)

Use this Contact Sheet Slideshow if you want a creative way to present your employees or team members. The template includes 10 placeholder images and you can easily add more if you need them.

Old Slideshow Free After Effects Template (Free)

The Old Slideshow template is another great choice if you’re looking for a retro-style gallery or slideshow. The template comes with full color control so you can easily customize the colors and drop in your photos.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Wall Slideshow (with Envato Elements)

Try the Wall Slideshow if you want a cool-looking, modern gallery to display your family photos and albums. The template is easy to customize and comes with full color control.

Modern Zoom Telescopic Slideshow After Effects Template (Free)

This Modern Zoom Telescopic Slideshow Video features a unique zoom effect pictured through a telescopic transition. You will also find multiple light leaks with sleek camera motion and a grand total of 6 image placeholders.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Clean Slideshow After Effects Templates (Free)

If you want a clean slideshow that you can use to present your family photos or if you need a clean slideshow for a corporate project, the Clean Slideshow template is the right choice. It features a stylish design, simple text animations, and smooth transitioning effects.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Slideshow Constructor for After Effects (with Envato Elements)

The first template on this list features a vintage-style slideshow of polaroids. It’s a great choice if you want to combine all your photos and create a truly unique photo album.

Free Parallax Scrolling Slideshow After Effects Template (Free)

Parallax is an extremely popular animation effect used in a number of websites. Thanks to this template, you can use it in your videos as well. This template contains 9 image or video placeholders, and 9 text placeholders.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Bold Slideshow (with Envato Elements)

Try the Bold Slideshow if you want a bold and colorful look. This template includes a detailed help file, full color control so you can easily customize the colors to match your brand, and editable text layers.

Modern Tile Slideshow (Free)

The Modern Tile Slideshow is a great choice for professional and corporate videos. The slideshow template features a unique, tiled look and a 3D tile drop down effect to reveal your images and transition between them in 3D. The template also includes multiple light leaks.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Free Dynamic Colorful Slideshow After Effects Template (Free)

This dynamic template features a modern and colorful style paired with minimal typography. It’s a great choice for both business and personal video slideshows. The template includes 23 media placeholders, 19 editable text layers and an intelligent color controller.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Stylish Spinning Columns Slideshow After Effects Template (Free)

Consider the Stylish Spinning Columns Slideshow Template if you’re working on a high-end project. The template features 6 image placeholders paired with a modern spinning column transition effect and multiple light leaks.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Travel Slideshow (with Envato Elements)

This versatile template features an upbeat and cinematic style based on the popular travel intro trend. The template is easy to update and customize to suit your individual styles.

Free Elegant Slideshow After Effects Template (Free)

This After Effects template is perfect for corporate and business slideshows. The template features elegant slide transitions and includes a number of placeholder images. You can easily add more and customize text and colors to match your brand.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Free After Effects Slideshow Templates (Free)

In this template, you will find 14 image placeholders that are arranged in a stunning grid layout. You can easily adjust the colors thanks to the intelligent color controller and replace the text with your own.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Fast Slides Free After Effects Slideshow Template (Free)

Use this template if you’re working a video that could use a fast-moving animation. This slideshow would be perfect at the beginning of a video to introduce different concepts that will be addressed in the video.

slideshow gallery animation ae adobe after effects template motion design project files video movie free

Creative Slideshow (with Envato Elements)

This Creative Slideshow template features a dynamic, fast-paced animation style and bold typography. The template would be perfect for a corporate video presentation and includes full color control as well as editable text layers.

Conclusion

Adding a slideshow to the beginning of your video can be a great way to give a preview of what you will talk about in the video. You can also use slideshows in the middle of the video to introduce a new segment or as a personal collage of your favorite moments.

This collection is a great starting point that you can use as an inspiration or to find the perfect After Effects slideshow template for your project.

The post 10 Free Slideshow & Gallery Templates for Adobe After Effects in 2021 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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The 10 Best Photoshop Action Sets for Creating the Bokeh Effect

The bokeh effect has a multitude of uses within digital art. It can be overused, sure. But it can also be simply stunning. Trying to recreate this look on your own would be a time-consuming task. Thank goodness for Photoshop actions, right?

What you’ll find here is a fantastic set of Photoshop actions that greatly simplify the process for making the bokeh effect. Most of these can be implemented with just one click and offer a wide range of stunning results.

It’s a good idea to try a few of these effects for yourself to see which would best serve your work. You’re certain to find something that works well, and that speaks to your specific needs. Now, without further delay, let’s jump right into the list!

Dual Light Photoshop Actions

The Dual Light Photoshop Actions set creates a beautiful double light effect on any photo of your choosing and add smoke and bokeh effects. The final image is layered and can be customized in a wide number of ways. This action set also comes with 20 color presets.

Soft Focus Photoshop Actions

Another action set you might want to consider is the Soft Focus Photoshop Action. This one works quite simply. Just add it to a specific area of a photo that you want to remain in sharp focus, then play the Action. The end result is a soft focus on the rest of the image which provides a bokeh effect.

Soft Focus Photoshop Actions

Bokeh Kit for Photoshop

The Bokeh Kit for Photoshop is another fantastic option. It’s minimal in effect but really cool and can transform your photographs in a variety of ways. This kit actually has a lot going for it, in that it’s not just a bokeh Photoshop action. It also comes with 8 bokeh gradients and 40 bokeh brushes to help give you more control over the end result.

Bokeh Kit for Photoshop

Bokeh Bomb Creation Kit for Photoshop

Another great option is the Bokeh Bomb Creation Kit for Photoshop. It’s chock full tools and resources for adding bokeh effects to your photographs. This kit comes with eight smoke effects, fast rendering, and snapshot prerendering play. It’s also nondestructive, so you can revert an image back to your original photo if need be. Other features include 20 bokeh gradients and 180 bokeh overlays.

Bokeh Bomb Creation Kit for Photoshop

Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action

You might always want to check out the Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action set. This one comes with just one action file and one brush file and is supplemented by a thorough how-to file. It’s completely easy to use, non destructive and compatible with all of the latest versions of Photoshop.

Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action

Bokeh Photoshop Actions

This is another great option designed with selfies in mind. This Photoshop action works by turning your selfies or iPhone photos into professional-looking photos by adding a bokeh effect. The action has 10 color effects that you can use as well to further customize the finished product. A help file and video tutorial are also included for your convenience.

Bokeh Photoshop Actions

Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action

The Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action is definitely worth considering as well. This action works by creating soft focus and light effects on your photos. All you have to do is select on area then click play. From there, you can make adjustments to color, contrast, and gradients as well thanks to 10 color presets and well-organized layers.

Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action

Shimmer Photoshop Action

If you want to leave your viewers dazzled, the Shimmer Photoshop Action is a great option. This action works as follows: brush the area of the photo you want to add a sparkle effect to then click play. That’s it! The end result is bright area of the photo that draws the eye and looks like it’s shining with tiny pieces of glitter.

Shimmer Photoshop Action

Circles Animation Photoshop Action

And check this one out! The Circles Animation Photoshop Action is a great one to add to your toolbox. With just one click, you can add soft focus light effects around The end specific area of a photo that you select. The end result is a sparkling effect that pulls in the eye.

Circles Animation Photoshop Action

Glory Photoshop Action

The Glory Photoshop Action is super easy to use. All you have to do is fill in your chosen subject with a color of your choice, select a light direction, then play the action. That’s it! You can select from 8 different light directions and the end result is non destructive as well so you can undo the effect if you don’t like how it turned out.

Glory Photoshop Action

Magicum Studio Lights Photoshop Action

The last action on our list is the Dreamy Photoshop Action. This one adds firefly effects with soft focus to your images. Select the area you want to highlight and click play. That’s all there is to it. This action comes with 10 color presets, graphic elements, and it’s layered and organized for convenient use (and undoing, should the need arise).

Magicum Studio Lights Photoshop Action

How to Install Photoshop Actions

  1. Download and unzip the action file
  2. Launch Photoshop
  3. Go to Window > Actions
  4. Select Load Actions from the menu and go to the folder where you saved the unzipped action file to select it
  5. The Action will now be installed
  6. To use the newly installed action, locate it in the Action panel
  7. Click the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions
  8. Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the Actions panel

We hope you enjoyed this list of the best Photoshop actions for creating the bokeh effect. Bokeh is versatile and relevant for a wide number of photographs and design choices. And in the end, after you’ve experimented with a few of the actions provided here, you’re bound to capture a look that fulfills your artistic preferences. Best of luck!

The post The 10 Best Photoshop Action Sets for Creating the Bokeh Effect appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

10 Free Design Agency Web Templates for Photoshop

If you’re working on a website redesign for your creative agency, it pays off to have a few design resources stored on your computer that will help you speed up the design process. This includes web templates for Photoshop that you can use when you need inspiration.

In this roundup, we’ve gathered web templates that are perfect for design agencies and will help you complete the redesign concept in no time.

We also have free portfolio PSD templates, free landing page PSD templates, free eCommerce PSD templates and free blog & magazine PSD templates. If you’re looking for a complete PSD web template round-up, take a look at this post.

Evana – Creative Agency PSD Template

The Evana template starts off the roundup strong with its creative and feminine design. Although the template looks like it would work well for feminine websites, you can easily customize the design to use whatever colors you prefer.

Poseidon – Creative Portfolio & Agency PSD Template (Envato Elements)

The Poseidon template will not disappoint you as it comes with an impressive number of PSD files that will help you design not only the homepage for your agency website but also all the other important pages needed to win new clients.

Poseidon Creative Portfolio Agency web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

MI Talent – Web Design Agency PSD Template

The MI Talent has a minimal and simple design paired with classic typography that gives it an upscale, timeless look. The template includes several PSD files that are well-organized for quick and easy editing.

MI Talent Agency  web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Splashes Creative Agency Template (Envato Elements)

The Splashes is a unique and creative template, suitable for a wide variety of agency websites. Standout features include fresh and clean design and included HTML files so you can get your new website design live as fast as possible.

Splashes Creative Agency web design layout adobe photoshop template psd format

Piroll – Free Agency & Portfolio PSD Templates

This template has a modern look that provides great flexibility. You can use it for designer, photography, web agency and studio websites. The template comes with 5 PSD sample pages and well-organized layers.

Piroll Agency Portfolio web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Deck – Free Card-Style PSD Template

Try the Deck template if you’re looking for a unique layout for your agency website. This template has an interesting card-based layout and comes with 45 unique templates and more than 200 design elements.

Deck card Card-Style web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Cesis – Creative Agency PSD Web Template

The Cesis template has a professional design with a corporate feel so don’t miss this one if that’s the style you prefer. The template is well-structured and includes layers that make it easy to customize this design.

Cesis Creative Agency web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Digital Design Agency Free PSD

The Digital Design Agency template has a fun and fresh design with pops of color that draw your visitors’ attention to your call to actions or important sections such as portfolio or contact. The template includes a fully editable Photoshop file.

Digital Design Agency web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Free Creative Studio Website PSD Template

This free Creative Studio Website template includes both Photoshop and Illustrator formats. The template has a dark color scheme which gives it a sophisticated look and feel but you can easily customize it to match your brand.

Creative Studio Website web design layout adobe photoshop template psd format

Startuply – Design Agency Landing Page PSD Template

The Startuply is a perfect choice if all you want is a simple but creative landing page. Customize this template with your brand’s colors and fonts and make sure to include all the information about your portfolio, contact information, and agency history.

Startuply Design Agency Landing Page web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Cesis Creative Agency Free PSD Template

This minimal and unique PSD template comes with 8 different page templates so you can design your entire agency website. The template is based on 1920px screen and 1170 grid system and includes stunning full-screen components.

Cesis Creative Agency web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format

Free Agency Landing Page PSD

The Free Agency Landing Page features a modern design with an interesting color scheme and clean typography. You’ll find several PSD files that are well-organized for quick editing.

Agency Landing Page web design layout adobe photoshop template free psd format


Coming up with a perfect design for your creative agency can be time-consuming. Save time with one of the premade web templates for Photoshop so you can get the initial design out of the way and focus on bringing your website to life.

The post 10 Free Design Agency Web Templates for Photoshop appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

10 Free Beautifully Designed Brochure Templates for Adobe InDesign

If you want to appeal to a wider audience, putting together a brochure can really help. And what better way to create a brochure than by using free brochure templates for Adobe InDesign?

These templates make it so easy to promote your business, services, or products — or even just spread valuable information — without having to go through the hassle of creating a template or brochure from scratch.

The ease-of-use factor, plus the convenience of just having to fill in blank fields, is what really pushes these InDesign templates over the top.

So go ahead and check out this collection of free brochure templates for Adobe InDesign. You’re certain to find something that suits your company or project.


You might also like… Free InDesign Proposal Templates, Free InDesign Resume Templates, Free Portfolio & Lookbook InDesign Templates and Free Magazine & Editorial InDesign Templates.

Corporate Bi-Fold InDesign Brochure Template

The Bi-Fold Corporate InDesign template is an excellent choice for those looking for fast results with minimal edits required. It’s built professionally with a fully-layered design and it can be used for multiple purposes. And since it’s easy to add custom text and images, you can export this template to a high-quality PDF in a matter of minutes.

Interior Design Brochure Template (Envato Elements)

With an easy-to-customize layout and eye-catching sample imagery, the Interior Design Brochure Template provides all the standard features you’d expect from a professional brochure: 30mm bleed, A4 & US Letter sizes, and free font and icon font support while maintaining a modern edge. Drag and drop photos to 12 custom pages.

Interior Design Brochure Template

Soft & Clean Square InDesign Brochure Template

If you’re looking to keep your brochure’s design clean and simple, the Soft and Clean Square InDesign Brochure Template ought to do the trick. Add a custom logo and text to 8-full color pages. The perfect choice for corporate brochures that need to stand out from the rest.

Soft Clean Square InDesign Brochure Template

Stylish Fashion Lookbook Brochure (Envato Elements)

The Stylish Fashion Lookbook Brochure Template has a delicate air of sophistication without being overstated. This template is deal for fashion spreads thanks to a generous 14-page design, well-organized layers, and 1-click color changes. It’s print-ready and immediately elevates your content.

Stylish Fashion Lookbook Brochure

Colorful Tri-Fold Brochure Template (Envato Elements)

Your nursery, preschool, after school activity, or playgroup will thrive with this brochure template. Though designed with marketed to parents in mind, this brochure template is a colorful trifold that could be used for a brochure in any industry that requires a striking design and pops of color.

Colorful Tri-Fold Brochure Template

Tri-Fold Hotel InDesign Brochure Template

Promote a bed and breakfast, a hotel, or a weekend getaway with this Tri-Fold Hotel InDesign Brochure Template. This template is easy to customize. Just drag-and-drop in your photos, add your text, swap out colors, and you’ll be good to go. It also comes with the Cardo-Regular font, and has been adapted for use in massage and salon service industries as well.

Tri-Fold Hotel InDesign Brochure Template

Bi-Fold Business Brochure Template (Envato Elements)

This elegant and modern bifold brochure is perfect for any corporate setting, which covers a wide range of businesses. It’s also recommended for publishing and annual reports. Even company profiles can make use of this template. It has just two page designs but sometimes that’s all you need to get the job done. Sometimes, simple is better, and this brochure template does simple well.

Bi-Fold Business Brochure Template

Futuristic Event Posters Set for InDesign

What a cool design this template offers! The Futuristic Event Posters Set for InDesign can be adapted for brochures easily and is easy-to-edit and customize with your own text and images on the fly. It sports an A3, tabloid layout, is fully print-ready, and can make any event or announcement more than stand out.

Futuristic Event Posters Set for InDesign

InDesign Product Brochure Template

If you have a specific product you want to promote and catch attention for, this InDesign Product Brochure Template will do the job and then some. This free offering offers a four-page layout with three content pages and front and rear designs. It’s simple, yet bold, allowing for full-page photography and/or pull quotes.

InDesign Product Brochure Template

Blue Business Brochure Layout (Envato Elements)

What a lovely template this is! The Blue Business Brochure Layout template is subdued and cool, yet absolutely ready to showcase your latest endeavor, promotion, or work. It’s easy to rearrange things as you see fit to accommodate your images and text. And it comes with 12 unique pages, so you’re certain to find a configuration that works for you.

Blue Business Brochure Layout

Green Swirls Tri-Fold Menu/Brochure Template

This template is stylish and free-flowing, perfect for naturally-inclined businesses, restaurants, spas, and more. This is perfect for highlight menus or menus of services in a succinct way that gets your point across without overwhelming readers. Think brochures you get for local restaurants on your screen door — only better.

Green Swirls Tri-Fold Menu/Brochure Template

InDesign Industry Trifold Brochure Template

For corporate or industry-based businesses (like coal, oil, or electrical companies) this brochure template will fit the bill. Its simple trifold layout makes it easy to present info about your business in a succinct way, but still offers enough details to engage. Everything is fully customizable and it’s print-ready.

InDesign Industry Trifold Brochure Template

InDesign Tri-Fold Brochure Template

Promote your travel agency, booking agency, or time-share with this travel-inspired trifold brochure template. It can be used for any industry, really, and offers appealing vector images as a part of the deal. This free template can be customized easily and is ready-to-print as soon as you’re done designing.

InDesign Tri-Fold Brochure Template

Retro Christmas Brochure Template

When the festive time is upon us, sometimes it’s nice to embrace it whole-heartedly in your business promotions. This Retro Christmas Brochure Template is great for promoting flash sales, or for simply adding a retro holiday touch to any company’s products, services, or other offerings. This brochure template is print-ready and can be modified to suit any business.

Retro Christmas Brochure Template


So you see? There are plenty of brochure template options here to help you put together a stunning brochure no matter the industry you’re in. This collection of freebies are so good you can professionally present your company with ease. Which is just pretty great, if you ask us.

The post 10 Free Beautifully Designed Brochure Templates for Adobe InDesign appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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Changing Hands: Should You Worry When a WordPress Plugin Has a New Owner?

As human beings, we tend to be wary of change. This seems especially so when it comes to the products and services we use. That “new and improved” formula? No thanks – just give us the original, please.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that there has been a lot of grumbling in the WordPress community lately. A number of big-name WordPress plugins have changed hands. The content management system’s ecosystem has suddenly been shaken as vigorously as a snow globe.

A mix of designers, developers, and website owners have taken to social media to voice their concerns. They’re wondering how these transactions will impact both them and their clients. It’s an understandable reaction in a time of such uncertainty.

Many of us feel a personal stake in the plugins we use. Sometimes it’s difficult to separate the emotional aspect of a change from the rational. Still, those feelings can be based on unpleasant experiences from our past. The reality is that not every transition goes smoothly.

So, how much should you worry when a trusted WordPress plugin is under new ownership? Let’s try and make sense of it all. Along the way, I’ll add in a little personal perspective.

There Are Stories behind Every Move

Finding out that a plugin you rely on has been sold can feel like a punch to the gut. I can attest that, as a user, my first reaction tends to be one of dismay. I always wonder why such a thing would happen, why the developer couldn’t leave well-enough alone.

But each time a plugin is bought or sold, there’s a background story. And there are any number of reasons why someone would want to sell. Maybe the responsibilities have outgrown the original developer’s capacity to handle them. Perhaps there are family concerns. The opportunity to cash-in is also in play.

On the other side of the coin, the new owners have their own agenda. They might see this product as one that fits in nicely with their established offerings. Additionally, they may believe that their vision for the product is one that can fuel growth.

Whatever the specifics, it’s important to remember that it takes two sides to make these deals happen. One party wanted to buy, and the other was willing to sell.

And when a plugin author is willing to sell their creation, there is reason to think that it is perhaps in the best interest of the product. There is always the possibility that, without a sale, the long-term outlook for the plugin may be in jeopardy.

So, even though we may have wished for things to stay the same, they may well have changed anyway.

Waiting with Uncertainty

Among the biggest stressors that come with these transactions is the uncertainty over what will change and when it will happen. Unfortunately, new ownership doesn’t always provide immediate answers.

We may get assurances that things will stay “as-is” for the time being. Software licenses will still be valid, features x, y, and z will continue work. Yet, it still feels like impactful changes in these areas are inevitable.

Personally, my biggest concern tends to be pricing. Regardless of who owns a particular plugin, price increases are often part of the deal – I get it. If the product is great, I don’t mind paying a bit more over time.

But major changes in this area could be problematic for web designers and their clients. If you typically purchase a developer’s license to use on client sites, a higher price means passing that cost onward. And if the number of sites allowed per license changes, that could be another expensive headache to deal with.

Then, changes in both support policy and staff can be worrisome. We all want to know that support is there for us when we need them and can help in a timely manner. Thus, there’s concern about new ownership possibly cutting corners.

When it comes to features, users need to know that things will still work as expected. This is particularly important when it comes to third-party integrations.

For example, what if a plugin currently integrates with a product from a rival company – will it still be supported down the road? No one wants to have their choices limited by a corporate jousting match. The bigger these companies get, the more possibility for such situations to arise.

A carton of eggs with silly faces drawn on them.

The Impact on Individual Websites

Ultimately, one wonders about the impact an acquisition will have on their own website. Particularly when a plugin is responsible for a major piece of a site’s core functionality. Add-ons like shopping carts, learning management systems (LMS) and membership managers come to mind.

People invest a lot of time and money into these types of websites. And the thought of having to swap out plugins is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.

However, new ownership in itself is not a reason to panic. While there may be a little bit of uncertainty amongst users, that doesn’t make it so with the plugin’s author. They (hopefully) have a plan to hit the ground running and gained plenty of insight into how things work. Even better if the original author, or some current maintainers, are still in the picture.

With that, you might reasonably expect a few minor hiccups during the transition. But there’s no rush to run away from your site’s current configuration. It’s OK to take some time to see how things play out.

It’s natural to have questions and concerns. In that case, the best thing to do is to reach out and try to get some answers.

And if you want to study up on alternative plugins, there’s no harm in doing so. Being prepared is always a positive.

A group of people create a website flow chart.

A Deep Breath and Lots of Fresh Starts for the WordPress Community

At times, the pace of WordPress plugins changing hands has been dizzying. Just as we get word of one notable transaction, another one follows. That alone can feel overwhelming and sew a certain amount of concern within a community.

Plus, it’s disappointing that some well-known developers are moving on. They’ve built a high level of trust with their customers and brought something unique to the WordPress ecosystem. They will be missed.

Still, I think it’s important to keep things in perspective. No, not every acquisition is going to work out perfectly. Some may even fail. Yet, it’s in our interest as web professionals to try and view things objectively.

Therefore, I invite you all to take a collective deep breath (with a mask and six feet of distance, of course). Things have changed. But it’s up to us to make the most of it.

The post Changing Hands: Should You Worry When a WordPress Plugin Has a New Owner? appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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How Web Designers Can Cope with Situations Out of Their Control

Everyone wants to control their own destiny. For web designers, that means layouts that look great, code that works as intended, and clients who pay on time.

While we may wish for each of those things, reality usually plays out differently. Layouts aren’t always pixel-perfect, code breaks and clients – well, they’re human.

But it goes even further. The deeper you look, the more situations you’ll find that are out of your control.

This is especially tough for those of us who keep a tight grip on both our business and projects. When something is out of our sphere of influence, it’s easy to become frustrated. And that can harm virtually every aspect of your work. It may even creep into your personal life as well.

That’s why the ability to cope with these situations is vital. By saving yourself from obsessing over something you can’t control, you’ll have more energy to focus on being positive and productive.

Let’s look at a few difficult-to-control situations that typically impact web designers. Along the way, we’ll discuss some methods for letting go in a healthy manner.

When a Longtime Client Leaves

If you’ve worked in this industry for a few years, you may have gotten an unexpected email from a client that goes something like this:

“Hi,

We wanted to let you know that we are in the process of building a new website. It should be ready in the next few weeks. Could you work with our new designer to help with the transition?

It was great working with you!
Your Ex-Client”

This is frustrating on a few different levels. First and foremost, it hurts that you didn’t get a chance to even discuss the project. On top of that, your soon-to-be ex-client expects you to work on the transition away from your services.

Clients will come and go – that’s just part of doing business. However, it’s particularly difficult when someone blindsides you like this.

As it turns out, you had no warning and zero control. If you had just been able to pitch an idea or two, maybe things would have turned out differently? These are the types of thoughts likely racing through your head after reading such a letter.

How to Cope

True, the damage has already been done. And while you can angrily fire off a one or two-word reply to your client, that’s not going to help the situation.

On the bright side, this could be a great learning opportunity. Reply with a few politely-asked questions, such as:

  • Was there a particular reason you went with a new designer?
  • Did you have any issues with the quality of my work?
  • So that I can continue to improve my services, is there anything else you’d like to share?

Much of what you ask will depend on the client and the project. But this is a solid place to start. The idea is to get inside your client’s head a bit and find out what went into their decision.

And while not everyone will provide answers, the ones who do can prove valuable. You may find that your services were lacking in some areas. Or, perhaps the client’s cousin is the “new designer”. Either way, it’s better than pounding your fist over the situation.

When a Third-Party Provider Messes Up

So much of what web designers do these days depends on third-party providers. That could be anything from web hosting, plugins, themes, or email delivery services. In other words – a big piece of a website’s ability to function or be accessed at all is run by someone else.

A failure at any one of these links in the chain can be disastrous. To illustrate the point, think about what happens when a content delivery network (CDN) has an outage. That could bring down a massive number of websites.

Meanwhile, web designers are left without much (if any) control. On one hand, you have an understandably frustrated client. On the other is a company that dropped the ball. Oh, look – there’s you in the middle!

In this type of situation, every second can feel like an eternity. There might be an opportunity to switch to a different product, but that’s not always feasible. If the issue is prolonged, tension continues to grow on all sides.

How to Cope

Maybe you can’t control an outage or even a troublesome line of code. But there are some things you can do proactively.

Working with the provider’s technical support can at least make you feel like you’re in the game. By getting the status of the situation, there’s an opportunity to pass it along to affected clients.

What’s more, any troubleshooting information you can offer also has value. Who knows? If it leads to a resolution, you can say you were part of the process.

A broken plate

When a Favorite App Changes for the Worse

This one often hurts on a personal level. We web designers tend to fall in love with tools and applications that allow us to get things done. Perhaps it’s a favorite design app like Photoshop or a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress.

When apps change, those changes are inevitably forced onto us, as well. They impact our workflow – and not always in the most positive way.

All it takes is a quick look around support forums and social media to see the frustration. Users go on about how the feature they loved was “ruined” or that things will never be the same. We’ve all seen it and, at one time or another, been a part of that collective disappointment.

How to Cope

The first coping strategy is to give such changes a chance to sink in. Even if your first impression of them wasn’t favorable, it can take time to build a comfort level. A feature that may have frustrated you at first could become positive after more exposure.

Second, you might reach out to the developer and let them know how you feel. Maybe it doesn’t result in an immediate remedy, but at least you get it off of your chest. And if enough people feel the same way, there’s a chance that things evolve more acceptably.

If all else fails, perhaps it’s time to find a suitable alternative. Sometimes, your relationship with a tool simply runs its course.

A person looks at a computer screen.

A Different Take on Control

In a profession where we aim to control all the variables, having the opposite can be maddening.

But, think of it this way: even if you could control every aspect of your work, would you even want to? It’s a major responsibility and more stress than most of us can bear.

Somewhere along the line, you have to put a level of trust in others. Whether that’s trusting a client, a software developer, or a service provider – they are often necessary rungs on the ladder to a successful business.

There will be failures and disconnects along the way. And, while it would be nice to have a measure of control over them, it’s also a bit unrealistic.

However, lack of control doesn’t mean that you have to give up all hope. Instead, look for ways to learn from the situation. The knowledge and experience you gain will serve you long into the future.

The post How Web Designers Can Cope with Situations Out of Their Control appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

The Top Add-Ons for the Gravity Forms WordPress Plugin

Gravity Forms is one of the most versatile WordPress plugins out there. Yes, it creates forms – and quite well. But its capabilities go well beyond your standard contact form.

A default installation of this commercial plugin can add all manner of conditional logic. That’s pretty powerful in itself. However, throw in the many available add-on plugins, and you have nearly endless possibilities.

Add-ons bring extra functionality to Gravity Forms. You can use them to take online payments, allow users to create an account, run surveys, generate PDF files, and a whole lot more. Really, that’s just the beginning of what can be accomplished.

Today, we’ll introduce you to some free and commercially available plugins that help turn Gravity Forms (and your website) into a feature-packed powerhouse.

Gravity Forms Zero Spam

If you have contact forms on your website, you also have spam. But mitigating this annoyance is easy with Gravity Forms Zero Spam. The plugin has no settings – simply install and activate to start blocking junk mail. It also plays nicely with other spam repellants such as reCAPTCHA.

Gravity Forms Entries in Excel

By default, Gravity Forms will export form entries in CSV format. But that’s not necessarily what you’ll always want. Plus, a site administrator has to be the one to perform the export. Gravity Forms Entries in Excel adds the flexibility of exporting to a more visually friendly Excel format and adding a secure link where others can directly access the generated file.

Gravity Forms Entries in Excel

Event Tracking for Gravity Forms

Want to get more in-depth detail of how your forms are performing? Event Tracking for Gravity Forms ties in various form events with Google Analytics, among other similar programs. The result is that you can more easily track conversions. As a bonus, there are a number of helpful videos that demonstrate how to set it all up.

Event Tracking for Gravity Forms

Gravity PDF

Imagine being able to take a user’s form entry and turn it into a personalized, branded PDF. That’s exactly what Gravity PDF can do. Add your logo, use custom fonts and even email the file directly to users. And, with the use of premium extensions, you’ll gain access to more file templates, the ability to watermark your documents and more.

Gravity PDF

Gravity Forms CLI Add-On

Administering WordPress via the command line allows for both power and efficiency. Gravity Forms CLI Add-On is an official extension that simply adds forms to the mix. Use it to manage forms and entries in pretty much the same way as you would in the WordPress back end. You can even use it to install other official add-ons.

Gravity Forms CLI Add-On

GravityView

GravityView is a suite of commercial add-ons that enables form entry data on the front end of your website. For instance, if users register for accounts via Gravity Forms, you could use this plugin to allow them to edit their profile data. From there, you can track changes to those profiles or perhaps plot addresses on a Google Map. And this is only scratching the surface of what’s possible.

GravityView

GravityWP – CSS Selector

Gravity Forms includes a number of helpful CSS “Ready” Classes that allow for more control over field layout. However, you must manually look up (or memorize) these classes and then add them into a field’s settings for them to take effect. GravityWP – CSS Selector takes the guesswork out of the process by allowing you to select from a handy listing of classes, thus saving loads of time.

GravityWP – CSS Selector

GravityPerks

Rounding out our list is GravityPerks, a commercial suite of over 30 “Perks” or add-ons that bring some seriously cool functionality to your forms. There are perks for all manner of functions, such as limiting the number of entries (or times a multiple-choice option can be selected), adding word counts to fields, the ability to email everyone who has submitted a particular form, and a lot more. If you require some niche functionality, look here first.

GravityPerks

Give Gravity a Boost

Two things really make Gravity Forms stand out as special. First, it offers some outstanding features right out of the box. Second, the plugin is built with extensibility in mind.

This has led to a community of both official and third-party add-ons that enable web designers to implement some mind-blowing functionality with minimal effort.

While Gravity Forms itself and some add-ons do cost money, it should still fit within even the smallest budgets. And for the number of powerful features you can add to your site, it’s well worth the investment.

The post The Top Add-Ons for the Gravity Forms WordPress Plugin appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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50 Free High-Resolution Photoshop Brushes

Photoshop brushes let you express your creativity in a completely new way. With thousands upon thousands of Photoshop brushes available for download, you are truly spoilt for choice, so there’s no excuse not to use them.

The demand for high-quality Photoshop brushes is huge. Every designer wants them. Every designer needs them. And as you will no doubt already know, we love to highlight and share as many free design resources as possible.

And today, we take a look at some of the best high-resolution Photoshop brush packs currently available in the design community.

So download these free Photoshop Brushes and install them all. You just never know when you might need them.

How to Install Photoshop Brushes

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to install and use Photoshop brushes.

  • Download the Photoshop brush you want to use and unzip the file
  • On your computer, go to the Photoshop folder and locate Presets > Brushes
  • Move your downloaded brush file to the above folder
  • Launch Photoshop and go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager
  • Click the Load button, locate your newly added brushes and click Open. You can also use the import presets function to install an entire folder of presets at one time. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to use the new Photoshop brush.
  • To use a Photoshop brush, go to Window > Brushes
  • Select your brush and then paint over the canvas. You can adjust the size and shape of your brush in the Brush Settings panel

Scribble Art Photoshop Brushes (Free, 39 Brushes)

If you need to add an abstract line or shape to your designs, then this free collection of scribble art Photoshop brushes is for you.

Da Vinci Pencil Photoshop Brushes (Envato Elements)

This high-resolution set contains twenty-five varied hard and soft lead pencil and sketching brushes.

Da Vinci Pencil Photoshop Brushes ABR

Subtle Grain Photoshop Brushes (Free, 6 Brushes)

This free Photoshop brush set from Spoon Graphics will allow you to give your clean designs a hint of texture that will quickly give them a vintage appearance.

Subtle Grain Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Wavenwater Photoshop Brushes (Free)

The Wavenwater Photoshop brushes is a set of artistic brushes and tool presets for Photoshop. You can freely use these brushes in your projects and let your creativity run wild.

Wavenwater Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Stipple Brushes for Photoshop (Envato Elements)

If you’re looking to add a modern twist or a touch of pop-art to your art creations, you will love this Photoshop brush set!

Stipple Brushes for Photoshop ABR

The Thrasher Collection of Photoshop Brushes (Free, 8 Brushes)

The Thrasher Collection is a free set of textures and eight Photoshop brushes for giving a grungy and textured effect to your designs.

Mixergraph Texture Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Elegant Flower High-Resolution Photoshop Brushes (Free, 15 Brushes)

This high-resolution set contains individual brushes of roses, lilacs, dandelions, and more. In total there are fifteen flowers in the free set.

Elegant Flower free photoshop brushes ABR

Watercolor Brushes for Photoshop (Envato Elements)

This tropical watercolor brush set for Photoshop is all you need to create a dreamy tropical watercolor scene. It features 15 watercolor brushes and various watercolor elements and backgrounds.

Watercolor Brushes for Photoshop ABR

Ink Brushes for Photoshop (Free, 28 Brushes)

Download this free collection of 28 brushes if you need to give your designs a watercolor or distressed effect.

Ink Brushes Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Real Markers Photoshop Brushes (Free, 12 Brushes)

As well as a small selection of linework brushes, this fantastic collection includes a huge collection of permanent and solid marker Photoshop brushes.

Real Markers Photoshop Brushes free brushes ABR

High-Res Photoshop Brushes Watercolor Collection (Envato Elements)

These watercolor brushes feature lovely floral elements. It’s a great set of brushes that will add a dose of elegance to any project. The set contains more than 60 floral, garland, and wreath brushes.

Photoshop Brushes Watercolor Collection ABR

Photoshop Stroke Brushes (Free, 27 Brushes)

Stroke Brushes Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Martina Palazzese’s Digital Oil Painting Brushes (Free, 6 Brushes)

Martina Palazzese has released her personal collection of brushes so that you can create your own professional digital oil paintings.

Martina Palazzese Digital Oil Painting Brushes free photoshop brushes ABR

Artistic Studio: Watercolor Toolkit (Envato Elements)

This set is perfect if you want to seriously stock up your design library. It contains 35 watercolor brushes for Photoshop as well as dozens of other watercolor elements such as textures, strokes, backgrounds, and more.

Artistic Studio: Watercolor Toolkit ABR

Hi-Res Smoke Photoshop Brushes (Free, 4 Brushes)

Check out this collection of four smoke brushes for Photoshop. The brushes were done in hi-res and you can use them to spice up any design project you are working on.

Hi-Res Smoke Photoshop Brushes ABR

Dispersion Effect Photoshop Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

If you’re looking for a quick way of adding the stunning dispersion effect to your designs, then this free collection of twenty Photoshop brushes is what you need.

Dispersion Effect Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Goldish Kit For Photoshop (Envato Elements)

Try this Goldfish kit for Photoshop if you’re working on a luxury or high-end project. The kit contains Photoshop brushes as well as layer styles, patterns, and textures.

Goldish Kit For Photoshop Extras ABR

Grunge Photoshop Brush Kit (Free, 16 Brushes)

Grunge Photoshop Brush Kit Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Mixergraph Grunge Brushes (Free, 5 Brushes)

All five of the individual high-resolution textures in this free Photoshop brush pack have been hand-made, digitalised and then individually edited.

Mixergraph Grunge free photoshop brushes ABR

Watercolor Design Bundle (Envato Elements)

If you’re looking for a way to add artistic elements to your designs, look no further than these beautiful watercolor brushes. The set contains 169 watercolor brushes along with other various watercolor design elements.

Watercolor Design Bundle ABR

Hand Drawn Arrows Brush Set (Free, 80 Brushes)

All created by hand, this free Photoshop brush set contains eighty individually sketched or drawn arrows.

Hand Drawn Arrows PS Brush Set free photoshop brushes ABR

Real Photoshop Brush Strokes (Free, 53 Brushes)

This high-resolution (2500px) set of Photoshop Dry Brushes contains fifty-three brush presets, giving a huge choice of brush effects.

Real Brush Strokes free photoshop brushes ABR

Coffee Paint Photoshop Brushes (Free, 16 Brushes)

If you need to give your project a distressed or rough appearance, then this collection of 16 Photoshop brushes is what you’re looking for.

Coffee Paint Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Trails Brush Set (Free, 19 Brushes)

This Trails brush set features 19 high quality brushes for Photoshop. The brushes can be used in both commercial and personal project but keep in mind attribution is required.

Trails Brush Set 19 Brushes ABR

Bokeh Photoshop Brushes (Free, 8 Brushes)

If you want to apply a bokeh effect to your design easily, try this set of bokeh brushes. You will find 8 different brushes that can be used in any personal project.

Bokeh Photoshop Brushes ABR

Abstract Watercolor Brushes (Free, 12 Brushes)

This stunning free Photoshop bundle includes twelve transparent watercolor brushes and a free paper background texture.

Abstract Watercolor Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Charcoal Pencil Photoshop Brushes (Free, 6 Brushes)

This is a free hand-drawn charcoal pencil brush set that includes brushed, gritted, grained, flicked, wacked, and dabbed brushes.

Charcoal Pencil Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Doodle Birds & Frames Photoshop (Free, 9 Brushes)

This free set contains nine free Photoshop brushes of hand-drawn birds and frames.

Doodle Birds & Frames Photoshop Brushes Tools Presets Free ABR

Water Splash Photoshop Brushes (Free, 11 Brushes)

This package, created by Niño Batitis, contains 11 high-resolution water splash brushes.

Water Splash Photoshop Brushes ABR

Marker Streak Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

This set of Photoshop brushes contains 20 high resolution marker streak brushes. The brushes can be used in both personal and commercial projects with no limitations.

Marker Streak Brushes ABR

Realistic Charcoal Photoshop Brushes (Free)

This set of realistic charcoal brushes was born out of an artist’s need for realistic charcoal feel in their designs. The set features various charcoal style brushes and can be used with no limitations.

realistic Charcoal Brush

High Resolution Cloud Photoshop Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

In this high resolution (2500px) pack there are 20 cloud brushes. These brushes are free to download and use in both commercial and personal projects.

High Resolution Cloud Photoshop Brushes ABR

High-Resolution Fabric Texture Photoshop Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

There are twenty fabric textures in this pack, and are all sized at 2500px.

High Resolution Fabric Texture Photoshop Brushes ABR

Distressed Halftone Brush Strokes (Free, 21 Brushes)

In this brush pack there are 21 hand-painted brush strokes that have been post-processed and bitmapped inside Photoshop, giving them a wonderful distressed halftone effect.

Distressed Halftone Brush Strokes ABR

Lightning Photoshop Brushes (Free, 43 Brushes)

How about adding some lightning to your project? With the help of this brushes, you’re sure to make some electrifying designs! Brushes can be used for personal projects.

Lightning Photoshop Brushes ABR

Oil Photoshop Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

If you need oil Photoshop brushes, this set will serve you nicely. The set contains twenty brushes that can be used in personal and commercial projects.

Oil Photoshop Brushes ABR

Splash Photoshop Brushes (Free, 15 Brushes)

Check out this collection of 15 splash brushes for Photoshop. It’s perfect for any grunge project and you can use these brushes in both commercial and personal projects.

Splash Photoshop Brushes ABR

Brush Pack v3 by Fenris31 (Free)

This brush pack by Fenris31 contains various brushes for Photoshop that will be suitable for all kinds of artistic and design projects. Use them in commercial and personal projects alike.

Brush Pack ABR

Photoshop Brushes for Painting Rocks and Water (Free)

If you want to achieve great results when painting rocks and water, consider this set of brushes. You will find various brushes that can be used for both commercial and personal projects. Crediting is not required but greatly appreciated.

Photoshop Brushes for Painting Rocks and Water ABR

Radiate Brush Set (Free, 12 Brushes)

This brush set includes 12 unique & abstract techno style brushes. Great for album artwork, abstract backgrounds and decorating tech style design projects.

Radiate Brush Set ABR

Fairy Tales Photoshop Brush Set (Free, 9 Brushes)

In this set there are 9 high resolution (1000 up to 2500px) brushes. They can be used for creating fantasy backgrounds and textures like rocks and metals.

Fairy Tales Photoshop Brush Set ABR

Old Technical Drawings Brushes (Free, 10 Brushes)

This set of brushes was made from old technical drawings so they are pretty realistic. The pack contains 10 brushes and they can be used for both commercial and personal projects.

Free Photoshop Brush Packs Old Technical Drawings Brushes there are 10 Brushes in the pack

High Res Dry Brush Stroke Brushes (Free, 12 Brushes)

This pack of high resolution brushes contains 12 dry brush stroke brushes. The pack can be used in personal and commercial projects, however attribution is required.

Free Photoshop Brush Packs High Res Dry Brush Stroke Brushes there are 12 Brushes in the pack

Bokeh Brushes (Free, 12 Brushes)

This set of bokeh brushes comes with 12 individual brushes that are perfect for any project that could use a little extra. The brushes are free to use in personal and commercial projects.

Bokeh Brushes there are 12 Brushes in the pack

Rain Photoshop Brush Set (Free)

Create realistic rain effect with the help of the Rain brushes for Photoshop. The pack can be used for commercial and personal projects.

Rain Photoshop Brush Set

TC-EPICA-I (Free, 10 Brushes)

TC-EPICA-I is a set of artistic brushes. It contains 10 different brushes that can be used to apply textures, smudges, and effects to your designs. The pack is free for personal and commercial projects with attribution required.

TC-EPICA-I there are 10 Brushes in the pack

Fiber Brushes (Free, 16 Brushes)

This pack contains 16 high resolution fiber brushes. They can be used in commercial and personal projects and crediting is not required but it is appreciated.

Free Photoshop Fiber Brushes there are 16 Brushes in the pack

Custom Brushes of Tyler Street (Free, 40 Brushes)

With an unusual name like this, you’re bound to find some original brushes for your design project. The pack contains 40 different brushes that can be used for personal and commercial projects.

Free Photoshop Custom Brushes of Tyler Street there are 40 Brushes in the pack

Nature Silhouettes Trees & Grass Brushes (Free, 19 Brushes)

Add a dash of nature to your designs with the help of these nature silhouette brushes. The pack contains 19 brushes and is free for personal and commercial use.

Free Photoshop Nature Silhouettes Trees & Grass Brushes there are 19 Brushes in the pack

Abstract Bokeh Brushes (Free, 24 Brushes)

Now you can easily add lomo and light-leak effect to your photos without recreating this effect from scratch. The pack contains 24 different brushes.

Free Photoshop Abstract Bokeh Brushes there are 24 Brushes in the pack

Grimey Brushes (Free, 5 Brushes)

This pack of 5 brushes will add grime to any design. You can use the pack in personal and commercial projects with no limitations.

Free Photoshop Grimey Brushes there are 5 Brushes in the pack

Watercolour & Ink Photoshop Brushes (Free, 25 Brushes)

These brushes have been created by using either watercolor paints or Indian ink on card. You can freely use them in both your personal or commercial work.

Watercolour and Ink Photoshop Brushes free photoshop brushes ABR

Aaron Griffin’s Digital Painting Brushes (Free, 6 Brushes)

Aaron Griffin Digital Painting free photoshop brushes ABR

Cloud Photoshop Brushes (Free, 15 Brushes)

There are fifteen individual cloud brushes in this set. You can use this free brush set with no commercial restrictions

cloud free photoshop brushes ABR

Spray Splatter Photoshop Brushes (Free, 12 Brushes)

These free splattered spray Photoshop brushes will be perfect for adding a grungy or dirty effect to your artwork.

Spray Platter free photoshop brushes ABR

Smoke & Fire Brushes (Free, 22 Brushes)

There are twenty-two brushes in this free high-resolution smoke and fire set.

Smoke and Fire free photoshop brushes ABR

High Resolution Fire Photoshop Brushes (Free, 20 Brushes)

This pack contains twenty high-resolution fire brushes, perfect for creating fiery text effect, glowing embers, or using them for lighting effects.

High Resolution Fire Photoshop Brushes ABR

Photoshop Smoke Brushes (Free, 13 Brushes)

This pack contains thirteen high quality Photoshop smoke brushes perfect for your next design project.

Photoshop Smoke Brushes ABR

The post 50 Free High-Resolution Photoshop Brushes appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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Behind the Scenes: Having a Singular Focus for Your Web Design Business

There’s a lot of talk about specialization in the web design industry. The idea is to focus on a specific type of clientele, tool, or project.

That means different things to different people. For some, it may entail building websites only with a content management system (CMS) like WordPress. Others may tailor their services to attract clients within a specific industry, such as medical or non-profit organizations.

One of the benefits of this singular focus is that a designer can gain an understanding of industry-specific needs and challenges. From there, it’s theoretically possible to offer a more customized (and profitable) experience than someone who works as a jack-of-all-trades. That expertise becomes attractive to clients and, before you know it, you become a go-to source for solutions.

Running this type of web design business is not without pitfalls, however. Success isn’t guaranteed. And, if you’re focusing on a specific industry, establishing credibility can be difficult.

Let’s take a look at the risks, benefits, and challenges of having a singular focus. Along the way, we’ll hear from a web designer who’s taken the plunge.

An Opportunity to Follow Your Passion

While money is always a consideration in business, it’s not necessarily the best reason to pursue a niche. A passion for the type of work you do and the people you work with is a better place to start. It’s more likely to lead you in the right direction and fuel growth.

For web designer Tara Claeys, her passion led to a realization. As she puts it, “I realized my favorite projects and clients were all education/school and non-profit organizations. I decided to go all-in and announce that I would only be working with this type of client from that point forward…”

And the goals for her new venture were simple: “I hoped this would make it easier to say ‘no’ to projects that I didn’t want to do… and over time would establish that I was a ‘go to’ for my niche”.

When you follow your passion, you’re more likely to put in the necessary groundwork – and do so happily. That could result in more in-depth knowledge and experience. It’s something you’ll want to share with every client.

That approach can put you on the fast track to both personal fulfillment and financial success.

An Uphill Climb to Visibility

Deciding to jump into a niche with both feet is a calculated risk. It can take time to build your brand. Meanwhile, lucrative projects outside of your new specialty may feel like missed opportunities.

If you don’t hit the ground running, the possibility of financial strain is real. Thus, it’s tempting to take on those other projects. It’s an understandable decision, but one with a slippery slope. The danger is in becoming too busy to go for the projects you want.

One of the big challenges is in establishing a footprint. This is especially difficult in sectors where there is a lot of competition. It may take several projects and some word-of-mouth to make a name for yourself.

This was something Claeys experienced. She notes that her greatest difficulty was “getting my name out in the industry as an expert/becoming known and trusted.”

Even if you have vast experience in building a specific type of website, there’s a lot of time and effort required to be seen as an authority. Building a portfolio of successful projects is important, but only part of the process.

The other half of the equation is in sharing what you know. Things like writing blog posts, speaking at industry events, and networking can help. It can be a lot of extra work but will introduce you to people within the areas you want to target.

That’s opposed to another popular tactic – cold-calling potential clients. For Claeys, “That was a waste of time and energy.” Indeed, it may be more effective to establish an identity and encourage people to come to you.

A person standing in a foggy field.

When Your Business Reflects Who You Are

You’ve put in the hard work and things have taken off. Now what? Claeys tells us that the rewards have been numerous.

“…I have loved every project I have taken on and have developed and enhanced a process to serve school and non-profit clients. It is easier to close sales because I am passionate and an ‘expert’”. In addition, this niche focus allows her to more easily identify potential clients.

And perhaps those are the best reasons to become a specialist. The chance to utilize your talents on projects you love sounds very compelling.

Still, it may not be for everyone – and that’s OK. Taking a broader approach to your career and business can be profitable and satisfying. A variety of projects can also be a great way to learn, after all.

But for those with a passion, specialization has some fantastic benefits. Tara Claeys is an example of how to make it a reality.

Thanks to Tara Claeys for sharing her experiences with us!

The post Behind the Scenes: Having a Singular Focus for Your Web Design Business appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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